Fat Grafting
- Fat grafting is a surgical procedure in which fat from one area of the body is transferred to the other area. It is used to enhance the required area by giving natural-looking results.
About fat grafting
- Fat is the most abundant and easily available natural filler. Fat is the largest source of stem cells in the body.
- Fat injected into areas requiring volume-enhancement produces safe, long-lasting, and natural-appearing results as volume is replaced to tissues where fat is diminished.
- It usually involves harvesting fat from one part of the body, processing it, and then carefully re-injecting it with specially designed needles into the areas requiring augmentation. The procedure may need to be done more than once to achieve the desired result.
Indications
The most commonly grafted areas include
- The hands (rejuvenation of hands),
- Face (rejuvenation),
- Lip augmentation (to make fuller lips)
- Depressions in the skin contour such as those that have developed following liposuction and scarring.
- Breast and Buttock augmentation with fat can give very realistic improvement.
- There is decrease in the volume of fat from our face as we age. Either fat grafting as a standalone procedure or with Facelift have shown remarkable rejuvenation.
- Acne scars.
- Hemi-facial atrophy.
Donor
We remove fat from the areas with surplus fat such as tummy, thighs, love handles etc. using liposuction. Once, it is extracted, it is then purified and prepared for injection.
The procedure
It may take around two to three hours.
Recovery
Bruising, swelling and restriction of movement of treated areas for approximately one week. Postoperatively compressive-type dressings will be applied. You should not sit or lie on injected areas for a prescribed period. You may have to start the massage program after the procedure.
Advantages
It is natural appearing, lasts a long time, and is safe. It is effective filler used for changing body contour, revising scars, filling depressions created by liposuction, and rejuvenating the hands and face.
Complications
- Swelling is the most common side effect. It settles down within several weeks.
- Bruising in both the donor and recipient areas.This resolves on its own in two to three weeks.
- Numbness of the skin overlying the donor and injected areas. This is usually temporary.
- Slight asymmetry or contour irregularity. This usually improves as the swelling resolves.
If you put on weight due to dietary excess or lack of exercise, then the fat grafted areas may fill out more. So it is important that you maintain your weight after the procedure.
Result
